ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17982, 29 March 1930, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE CIVIC. TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMME. “Big Time,” an intriguing story combining romance and sensation, will head the change of programme at the Civic Theatre tonight. It deals, as the title suggests, with theatrical life, and the interest of the audience is maintained throughout. The cast is headc-d by several stage stars, including Daphne Pollard (that really funny English comedienne who has been seen in several short subjects), Josephine Dunn, Lee Tracey and Mac Clarke. Several fine musical and dancing numbers are introduced into the film.

The supporting short subjects will be of particular interest. They include the King, who is seen and heard making a speech; selection from the opera “Barber of Seville”; Winnie LigMner (who was so funny in “The Gold Diggers of Broadway”), in a variety act; and the Pox News, an interesting Gazette. “Tarzan the Tiger," an exciting serial, is proving very popular at the matinee performances. STRAND THEATRE. “Street Girl" now interesting large audiences at the Strand Theatre, is one of those shows that has an appeal for every theatre-goer. There is a captivating plot, there is a generous share of line music, and there is a wealth of personality in the talented cast headed by Betty Com-pson. The stoiy tells of the struggle of a little group of musicians—four boys and a girl—to win fame from an unpromising start in a small cafe in the Hungarian quarters of New York. How the chance visit of a prince to their restaurant influenced their careers and led them finally to a night club of their o-\yn, comprises the plot in which are woven several remarkably fine characterisations. Betty Com.pson, in the role of a little Hungarian violinist, brings a new charm to the screen. Her talent on the violin is particularly impressive for one whose reputation has been built outside the musical world. John Harron, who has the leading male role opposite her, will undoubtedly climb high in the ranks of the new leading men of the talkies by virtue of his sincere performance.

TALKIES AT CAMBRIDGE. One of the sensations of the talkie screen, “The Cockeyed World,” will be presented at the Cambridge Town Hall to-night. When “The Cock-eyed World,” a story by Laurence Stallings and Maxwell Anderson, authors of that memorable production, “What Price Glory,” was released in the United States it created an unprecedented acclaim, so much so that the Roxy Theatre, one of the outstanding talkie theatresrin the States, was besieged for the longest season on record- Now 7 “The Cock-eyed World” has come to this Dominion, and has stirred up parallel enthusiasm. The production presents the fights and amorous adventures of two very hard-'boiled marine sergeants (Viotor McLaglen and Edmund Lowe), and they have been incorporated into a film which Is full of the heartiest comedy, while it has a cleverly maintained balance of pathos. It has tense situations well conceived and logically worked out, a wonderful variety of scenes ranging from snowy 'Russia to the tropics, and there is some exceptionally fine acting, particularly by McLaglen as Plagg. Lily Damita plays the part of the marines’ girl of the tropics; Leila Karnelly, their Russian girl; and Jean Barry their New York girl. Quelling an uprising in the tropics is one of the high-lights of the film, and shows the two marines at their best. Their troubles over their loves also create much hilarious comedy. The whole production keeps one in laughter mood.

THEATRE ROYAL. “The Lady Lies,” which attracted a large audience to the Theatre Royal last night, tells a sophisticated story of a prominent and successful lawyer who is a widower, and who, to the disappointment of his two young children and his relatives, falls in love with a woman who is not, in their opinion, of an equal social standing with him. The family powers of intervention are brought to bear, and the plot deals with the weighing in the balance of a true love affair, and a family’s selfish ambitions. After numerous situations which are shot through with clever dialogue and tense drama, the romance reaches a logical culmination. Three of Broadway’s most popular actors are seen in the film. The principals arc Walter Huston, Claudette Colbert and Charles Ruggles. I-iuston and Miss Colbert have the romantic leads in the production, and Ruggies is the leading fun-maker.

FRANKTON’S OWN,

“Craig’s Wife,” featuring Irene Rich, will head to-night’s programme. A Gazette and a comedy are included. JOHN DUNN, VIOLINIST. In this age or talkies, gramophones, wireless, and panatropes, music by legitimate musicians is becoming a lost art. It would toe well for the music-loving public to support (Mr .John Dunn’s concert and show that as far as Hamilton is concerned this statement is wrong. Air Dunn is an authority ou violins. He himself plays a genuine Stradivarius valued at £3OOO. In Auckland when he appeared the 'music-lovers after his first solo cheered him. lie is a perfect master of the violin. He not only played two complete concertos during the evening, tout played a progtarnme of lighter music of every class as a master only can perform. THE GAY REVUE COMPANY. So far the Gay Revue Company lias made three successful presentations of its entertainment, at Newstcad, Komakorau and Gordonton. The country people have given enthusiastic support to the company. On Wednesday evening the Gordonton Hail nesday evening the Gordonton .Hall was filled lo overflowing. The programme, consisting of 'bright, ballets, humorous sketches, topical songs and solo dances, etc., has been exceedingly well received. A novel feature of the country performances is a short dance following the entertainment.